15th October 2020

After testing positive for coronavirus, 138 people have died in the UK. There are 321 active cases in the Harborough area. Today, Matlock and most of the Peak District moved into local lockdown (Tier 2). We were fortunate to avoid the restrictions by just one day!

Using four raw bolts, I spent the morning fixing the ‘antique’ red post box onto the wall next to the front door, while Sue made leek and potato soup. The notice indicating the collection times on the box was replaced with one asking the postman to use the letterbox in the door rather than the red box. We may be ‘missing the point‘ of owning our own post box, but during the winter, we prefer the convenience of collecting our mail from the floor inside a warm house.

Sarah, Alice, and Mia arrived at 10:30 am and chatted with Sue while I completed my DIY Post Office task. For lunch, we drove to the Red Lion in Welham, and unlike our previous visit to this pub, we didn’t come across Jamie. On our return, I took advantage of the dry weather and mowed the lawns while the others enjoyed a pleasant walk around Welland Park.

16th October 2020: After testing positive for coronavirus, 136 people have died in the UK. There are 350 active cases in the Harborough area.

Visitors often knock on the front door to get our attention, despite there being an electric doorbell. For some reason, the button for the internal chimes was inexplicably positioned in the corner of the frontage, next to the kitchen window. I can’t imagine why the previous owner placed it there, perhaps to save a bit of wiring to the WiFi sender unit inside the kitchen. Over the years, I’ve put up several signs on the door pointing to the button, yet people still knock. Today, after 21 years, I finally moved the button next to the door by extending the cabling. I’m now looking forward to hearing a dulcet chime rather than a harsh rap-a-tat-tat disturbing the peace.

During the morning, Charlotte was shopping in Harborough and called in for coffee and a chat. It seems that Harry is quite poorly with stomach problems.

17th October 2020: After testing positive for coronavirus, 150 people have died in the UK. There are 381 active cases in the Harborough area, up 183 from last week.

After flying in from Kos with his mates, Jamie was picked up from Stansted Airport by Ruth. On their way home, they called in briefly to check on Maddie, promising to collect the rabbit tomorrow.

18th October 2020: After testing positive for coronavirus, 67 people have died in the UK. There are 450 active cases in the Harborough area, up 253 from last week.

For the first time, we had our chimney swept professionally. In the past, I’ve always done it myself, usually on a fine day in the middle of summer, but somehow COVID-19 proved too much of a distraction, and I forgot. I briefly toyed with the idea of inviting Ellis or Lucas over for the day, playing Chim Chim Cheree from Mary Poppins as they cleaned the chimney, but I had second thoughts, guessing Charlotte might take a dim view of my enterprise. Instead, a couple of ‘smutty’ guys turned up just before lunch, armed with sheets, a hose, and a ‘sucking machine’, and under Sue’s close supervision, they did a quick and efficient job.

That afternoon, Ruth and Jamie were as good as their word and collected a reluctant Maddie. I think the little bundle of white fur will miss our warm and peaceful glasshouse. In the evening, they visited the cinema in Kettering and had the rather novel experience of having the entire theatre to themselves. It’s sad but understandable that people are reluctant to risk watching a film with COVID-19 cases on the rise in the area.

Thankfully, Harry, the poorly greyhound, is back up to speed and feeling much better.

19th October 2020: After testing positive for coronavirus, 80 people have died in the UK. There are 514 active cases in the Harborough area, up 261 from last week.

On a windy morning, while Sue went to visit Jim and Bridget, I set about clearing out the garage before painting the floor with a special paint that Lee had found in his garage. Never one to turn down a free tin of paint, I now have a garage floor that is no longer grey but (Post Office) red.

An early morning phone call from the doctor confirmed that the pain in my arm was due to arthritis, and I’ve now been prescribed a course of anti-inflammatory medication.

Today, Charlotte, Ellis, and Harry drove to Newbold Verdon for a pleasant walk on a breezy but dry day with Sarah, Alice, and Mia.

20th October 2020: After testing positive for coronavirus, 241 people have died in the UK. There are 369 active cases in the Harborough area, up 103 from last week.

As the weather forecast had predicted no overnight rain, I left the cars, quad bike, tools, and other garage paraphernalia outside to allow the floor paint to dry thoroughly. At 2:30 am, snug in my warm and cosy bed, I suddenly heard the rain thundering down on the roof (thank you, Google forecast!). Over the next 20 minutes, dressed in my dressing gown and slippers, I splashed through puddles, hurriedly moving everything that couldn’t afford to get soaked under cover.

Not surprisingly, I woke late (8:45 am), and after a lazy breakfast, I set about putting everything back in its proper place. By lunchtime, the task was complete, and the garage looked rather smart and tidy.

Despite this year’s miserably poor grape harvest, I started the fermentation process with the few bunches I managed to pick. Last year, I had 2×25-litre barrels and 5×5-litre demijohns of juice fermenting; this year, just a single demijohn, supplemented with a litre of mango juice!

21st October 2020: After testing positive for coronavirus, 191 people have died in the UK. There are 531 active cases in the Harborough area. South Yorkshire will move to Tier 3 lockdown from Saturday, uncomfortably close to North Yorkshire, where we’re planning to do some walking next week.

On a day when Storm Brenda was forecast to wreak havoc across the country, Charlotte and Ellis brought Harry to stay. The Rothwells are spending a few days in Oxford, but their accommodation doesn’t allow dogs.

As predicted, it rained all day, resulting in a very wet dog and some extremely muddy wellies after the three walks we splashed our way through. Harry’s waterproof raincoat proved to be anything but waterproof. After just the first outing, it was soaked through and had to be swapped for his warm coat for the next two (slightly less wet) walks.

21st October 2020: Today was a vast improvement from yesterday, so after breakfast, I decided to take Harry to Foxton Locks for lunch. We left Willow Bank just after 9 am, following a route past Gartree Prison and onto the canal just outside Foxton. Surprisingly, despite it being a pleasant school half-term day, we didn’t see another walker until we reached the village.

As we followed a stretch of canal towards the Locks, I suddenly heard a tremendous splash behind me. Off the lead, it was Harry! Somehow, he had managed to fall into the water beside a moored narrowboat. Greyhounds aren’t known for their swimming abilities, especially when weighed down by a raincoat. With only his head bobbing above the dark green, leaf-covered water, I quickly hauled him out by the hood of his coat, managing to stay dry myself. Standing on the bank, he looked like one very miserable canine. But after removing his sodden coat and giving himself a vigorous shake, he miraculously seemed to forget the whole ordeal and got straight back to the serious business of sniffing bushes and cocking his leg.

The Locks were bustling with activity. At Bridge 61 (pub), I opted to sit inside the empty hostelry with my damp companion and enjoyed a pie and cider, while Harry was treated to a packet of dog chews. The other customers chose to make the most of the sunshine and the company of the ducks outside.

Our route home took us through Lubenham, where we stopped for another refreshing drink at the Coach and Horses. I hadn’t visited this pub since Peter flew to New Zealand last November, and apart from the usual COVID-19 restrictions, nothing had changed; it was still fairly busy.

By the time we finally arrived home, it was straight into the bath for one smelly Harry.

After heavy rain fell for most of the night, I took Harry on a muddy walk to see the Judith Stone before returning him home to Rothwell. Charlotte and her family had just returned from their three-day break in Oxford and were eager to be reunited with their pet.

Today was a significant day for Nala, as Ruth took her to the vet to be spayed. The operation appeared to go well, though she is likely to be quite delicate for the next few days. Tomorrow, Sue and I have the pleasure of looking after both Nala and Rocky overnight while Jamie and Ruth treat Joey and Ellis to a trip to London, including a performance of Spiderman and an overnight stay in a hotel.

24th October 2020: After testing positive for coronavirus, 174 people have died in the UK. There are 601 active cases in the Harborough area, up 220 from last week.

It was 9 am when Jamie, Ruth and Joey dropped Rocky and Nala off for his doggie break, before driving south to London, diverting to pick Ellis up in Rothwell.

The day turned out to be wet and windy, not great for being outside! Despite her operation, Nala seemed to suffer no ill effects and was full of energy and bounce, but to be careful, when I took Rocky for walks, Nala had to be satisfied with the garden and Sue’s company.

That evening, with the wind howling outside and the rain pouring down, Sue and I cosily watched a film on Netflix with two sleeping mutts and a blazing fire.

25th October 2020: After testing positive for coronavirus, 151 people have died in the UK. There are 642 active cases in the Harborough area, an increase of 192 from last week. Wales has entered a 17-day lockdown, with pubs, restaurants, and non-essential shops ordered to close until 9 November.

A pair of very sleepy dogs was collected in the afternoon and taken back to Desborough by their owners. The house felt strangely empty once they had gone, but with a trip to North Yorkshire planned for tomorrow morning, Sue and I kept busy preparing for a week of rambling and sightseeing.

To date (10 days), the relocated doorbell has yet to be pressed! Despite the button being right in front of visitors, they still use the knocker. What is wrong with people? I bet it will be rung endlessly while we’re away!